Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Bernie And The Science Guy Talk Climate Change

“…[A new Bernie Sanders-Bill Nye climate change conversation (video below) will help explain it to deniers and the uneducated. The] senator asked Nye to address those who insist that the earth's recent warming is part of a natural cycle the planet has always experienced, as well as their assertion that the scientific community has yet to reach a clear consensus on the topic. Nye [said] that 97 percent of scientific research concludes that the earth is indeed undergoing the unnatural, harmful process of climate change…[and] criticized Fox News anchors for continually spreading the impression of division among researchers…[Nye also] explained the cognitive dissonance of those who deny climate in the face of undeniable evidence…[His] description of the consequences that inaction can lead to are chilling…[Throughout the conversation, Nye argued people who don't want to work toward battling climate change can be convinced to join the cause if they're shown that renewable energy — and other environmental efforts — would have a positive effect on the economy…”click here for more

The Great Wind Deal Will Get Better

“…[Research and experts agree] wind energy will continue to get cheaper toward 2030 and beyond…[Technological advancements that have yet to be implemented suggest] that wind energy is not as mature a technology as its slowly evolving turbines make it appear…Experts anticipate a wide range of advancements that will [reduced onshore wind up-front costs,] increase project performance, extend project design lives, and lower operational expenses. Offshore wind has even greater opportunities for cost reduction, though there are larger uncertainties…[E]xperts predicted on-shore wind energy would see cost reductions of about 35 percent by 2050. The cost of offshore wind would drop 38 percent to 41 percent, they predicted…”click here for more

“Falling costs of electric vehicles and solar panels could halt worldwide growth in demand for oil and coal by 2020……[The latest cost reduction projections for the green technologies and countries’ pledges to cut emissions could make solar power and electric vehicles ‘gamechangers’ that] take 10% of market share from fossil fuels within a decade, according toExpect The Unexpected; The Disruptive Power of Low Carbon Technologies. U.S. coal collapsed when it lost 10% loss of its market share and…[an 8% renewables growth caused Europe’s five major utilities to lose] €100bn (£85bn) between 2008 and 2013…[Big energy companies’ business as usual scenarios serious underestimate this transition, the study argues, because solar] could supply 23% of global power generation by 2040 and 29% by 2050…By 2035, electric vehicles could make up 35% of the road transport market, and two-thirds by 2050…Under such a scenario, coal and oil demand could peak in 2020…”click here for more

Monday, February 27, 2017

Heartland City Leaders Face Climate Change

Rebecca Romsdahl, February 26, 2017 (The Conversation via Business Insider)

“President Donald Trump has the environmental community understandably concerned…[but even] if the Trump administration withdraws from all international climate negotiations and reduces the EPA to bare bones, the effects of climate change are happening and will continue to build…In response to real threats and public demand, cities across the United States and around the world are taking action to address climate change. We might think this is happening only in large, coastal cities…[but research of over 200 local governments in 11 states of the Great Plains region shows] local leaders in small- to medium-size communities are already grappling with the issue…[Their] strategies can provide insights into how to make progress on climate policy under a Trump administration…[Many of these policy activities are specifically not framed as climate actions but to broader concerns with] dirty water and dirty air…”click here for more

EVs Nearer To Going Plug-Free

“…Car buyers are familiar with plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles, but companies such as Qualcomm seek to jump-start the transition from internal combustion to zero-emission cars with “inductive” charging…Instead of charging a vehicle with a plug or cable, the driver using a wireless system aligns the car over a charging pad and an electromagnetic field does the rest…The technology has been talked about for years but, starting with the hybrid version of the 2018 Mercedes-Benz S550e, wireless vehicle charging technology will make its debut…A slew of other car makers are about to enter the wireless-charging market as well…[T]ech companies such as Evatran, Momentum Dynamics, Witricity and Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification offer versions of wireless vehicle charging…Expect charging pads to be seen first in the garages of electric vehicle (EV) owners…Models from some makers run as low as just under $1,500…”click here for more

Politics Block Farmers From Growing Solar

“…[Farms around Connecticut can relieve economic pressure by hosting solar projects but face an emerging] controversy over siting solar on farm and forestland…pitting farmer against farmer and environmental interest groups against one another, putting state departments at odds, and raising the always explosive issue of private property rights versus state policy…[It is] a collision of two well-intentioned environmental policies. One pushes and provides financial incentives for more renewable power – solar being the vastly favored choice in Connecticut. The other preserves farmland and forestland for agriculture and open space…Farmland is clear, well-drained, usually large, often south-facing – just what solar needs…[It] tends to be less expensive for solar developers…[but the land] is a finite resource…[Compromise legislation] would inventory available land and other facilities to determine which are best suited for solar…”click here for more

“Businesses and investors are increasingly recognising climate change as one of the top global risks...[and now fall] into two main camps. The first group have already started mobilising to drive the shift to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, looking to take advantage of the economic opportunities it presents. The second group - reading the signals from policy-makers and markets - is beginning to realise that the world’s shift to a low-carbon future is now inevitable and is grappling to understand the disruptions it will bring and the speed at which they will come…[Both groups recognize five key areas of challenges and opportunities in the rising level of investment going into sustainable business models and infrastructure development, the phase out of fossil fuel subsidies, the standardizing of corporate reporting on climate risk, the increasing use of effective carbon pricing, and more global collaboration on meeting the challenges]…”click here for more

High Winds Rising In The Deep South

“Wind power is the largest source of renewable energy in the United States. But [because surface winds are mild, Amazon’s North Carolina installation will be the first large wind project in the] Southeast…[T]he strongest winds tend to be higher up than in [the wide open spaces of] the Great Plains…[because of geography and because] the Southeast has a lot of trees and forests…[A]side from a small amount of wind power in Tennessee, the region has lagged far behind the rest of the country in wind energy…[But technological advances make taller towers and longer blades] feasible and more affordable…[T]he cost of generating wind power has dropped about 65 percent over about the past five years…[and is now cost-competitive with coal and nuclear and southern] utilities are looking to diversify their fuel mix and lock in a low price with wind energy…”click here for more

When Solar Stocks Will Come Back

“…[Driven by falling costs and favorable policy, the U.S. solar industry saw a 95% jump in installations in 2016] to 14.6 GW…On top of the huge installation numbers, solar accounted for 39% of all new electricity installed in 2016, a record for the industry. And with costs coming down every year, the future looks bright for the industry…{But across] the board, solar stocks had a rough year in 2016…SunPower, First Solar, Vivint Solar, and Sunrun are all down significantly [and SolarCity would be, too, if not for its buyout by Tesla…[Stocks are down because the favorable policy disfavored new contracts. That will lead to a slow 2017. But solar energy is cheaper than ever and it's now competing with fossil fuels on a cost basis. Long term, that will lead to a [bumpy ride and then a] tremendous amount of growth, and companies like First Solar, SunPower, Vivint, Sunrun, and Tesla should lead the way…”click here for more

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Climate Change Progress That Politics Won’t Stop

“Environmentalists are not happy with the Trump administration…[But here’s] the good news: States, cities and many companies in the United States realize that…[rational policies provide] important health benefits, such as reducing smog, and [help] authorities prepare for climate-induced changes, such as floods and droughts. For companies, planning for the future is just good business…The C40 Cities initiative is a network of more than 80 cities, including 13 in the United States, and represents 600 million people around the globe. Their governments are collaborating on climate efforts, and they have committed to mandatory measurement and reporting of emissions and other policy measures…Eight U.S. cities also joined the ambitious Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance, where cities pledge to cut emissions by at least 80 percent by 2050…[New York, Miami, and many other U.S. cities are also preparing for a changed climate…[T]he fate of Obama’s Clean Power Plan (CPP) is unclear…[but] many U.S. utilities are moving forward assuming CPP or other regulations will be in place…All of these moves suggest there’s reason to be hopeful…”click here for more

“…Despite the low oil, gas and coal prices of the past two and half years, the renewable-energy industry has remained buoyant…[According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), ‘major transformations’ in global energy will make renewables and natural gas the big winners through 2040. Most renewables-based generation is already competitive without subsidies and, with the oil price now rising to over $50 a barrel, the outlook is even better for] renewables, particularly wind power…Onshore wind energy is already proving to be commercially competitive in some markets. If the cost of electricity from conventional fossil-fuel sources increases, that process will accelerate…[The latest manufacturer’s data] suggests that turbine-selling prices in the third quarter of 2016 were $941/kW, 8% lower than in the corresponding period in 2015…”click here for more

Vermont Health Care Goes Solar

“…[The Springfield, VT, Hospital and Health Center] has completed its first solar project, with the installation of four solar panels in front of the entrance of the health center…[T]he hospital will build a full solar array on land adjacent to the hospital later this year…[The smaller solar system will] produce hot water for use for the doctors and patients at the health center, and the larger, net metered system at the hospital [will] produce electricity to offset the hospital’s usage…[Engineers determined the building’s] roof was not suitable…[The $30,000 four panel hot water system was installed before the onset of winter and has] already started decreasing the center’s use of fossil fuels…During the next 10 years, the hot water system will offset the use of 2,500 gallons of propane, which would ordinarily heat the 600,000 gallons of water used annually by staff members, patients and visitors to the health center…”click here for more

Monday, February 13, 2017

Fashion Faces Climate Change

“…[Climate change-induced weather havoc is impacting clothing sales] of all kinds, from coats to boots to bathing suits…[The retail industry is trying to get on top of the changes and one] famous New York fashion school has even incorporated weather analysis into its coursework…[The Fashion Institute of Technology hasFM 329], Predictive Analytics for Planning and Forecasting: Case Studies with Weatherization. It’s the first time FIT has married math and the business of fashion to help students understand a huge influence on buying behavior: weather…[For fashion retailers, a] warm December or chilly June can mean millions of dollars in lost sales of seasonal merchandise…[Climate change is making the weather more volatile. A sudden hot spell can depress coat sales and send buyers shopping for swimsuits but big data] is giving professional analysts — and these students — an edge in predicting how weather could affect sales or inventory buildup…”click here for more

“UPS plans to expand its use of solar energy nearly five-fold this year, by adding [about 10 megawatts, or enough electricity to power about 1,200 U.S. homes annually, at a cost of about $18 million] to its 2,580 facilities throughout the world…Increasing the use of renewable energy has become a targeted goal of Fortune 500 companies, and with good reason. As early as 2014, more than half of Fortune 100 companies collectively saved $1.1 billion in energy costs by rolling out renewable energy programs…[UPS] has invested more than $750 million in alternative-fuel and advanced-technology vehicles and in fueling stations globally since 2009. In 2014, UPS said, it saved nearly $200 million from its renewable energy program…”click here for more

Ocean Wind Becomes The Next Frontier

“…[O]ffshore wind, once a fringe investment, with limited scope and reliant on government subsidies, is moving into the mainstream [and developers say it is the next New Energy frontier]…Offshore wind has several advantages over land-based renewable energy, whether wind or solar. Turbines can be deployed at sea with fewer complaints than on land, where they are often condemned as eyesores…But the technology had been expensive and heavily dependent on government subsidies, leaving investors wary. That is now changing…Turbines today are bigger, produce much more electricity and are deployed on much larger sites than in the past. The result is more clean power and extra revenue…The number of major players has also expanded, creating more competition. A joint venture of Vestas, the Danish turbine maker, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan, is now competing with Siemens, which had long dominated the market for building offshore turbines. Others, like the American giant General Electric and Chinese manufacturers, are also jumping into the game…Companies are developing specialized vessels and improving installation techniques (taking a cue from the oil industry), cutting construction timetables…”click here for more

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Climate Change May Threaten Power Delivery

“As the planet warms due to climate change and hot days become more common, the US electrical grid could be unable to meet peak energy needs by century's end…The cost to upgrade the US electrical grid so it could cope with peak demands may be on the order of $180 billion, said [Climate change is projected to have severe impacts on the frequency and intensity of peak electricity demand across the United States from Arizona State University. The current study looks at] the effect of ever-more frequent and intense heat when it comes to peak electricity demand, or the maximum amount of electricity a given area would need at one time…These jumps in peak electricity demands…may require substantial investments by US electricity grids into peak electricity generating capacity…Much of the costs to upgrade the grid would involve capacity, storage and transmission investments—not simply the cost of generating electricity…If the world continues to burn fossil fuels at the current rate, without any major effort to mitigate the damage caused by greenhouse gases, the United States' peak electrical needs could rise by as much as 18 percent…”click here for more

“…The American solar workforce grew at a historic pace in 2016…[and] outpaced the overall U.S. economy by 17 times as it increased by over 51,000 jobs, for a total of 260,077 U.S. solar workers…[S]olar jobs increased in 44 of the 50 states in 2016, showing that solar industry growth is truly a nationwide phenomenon…[led by California, Massachusetts, Texas, Nevada, and Florida. Job] growth in 2016 took place in all job sectors, including a 26 percent growth in manufacturing companies to 38,121 jobs nationwide. Installation jobs increased by 14 percent to a total of 137,133 jobs. Project development jobs increased by 53 percent to 34,400 jobs, while sales and distribution jobs increased by 32 percent to 32,147 jobs…Nine percent of solar workers nationwide are veterans, compared to 7 percent in the overall U.S. workforce…[and] the percentage of solar workers who are women increased from 24 percent in 2015 to 28 percent in 2016, the percentage of African-American solar workers increased from 5 percent to 7 percent, and the percentage of Latino/Hispanic solar workers increased from 11 percent to 17 percent…”click here for more

Record Orders For Biggest U.S. Wind Builder

“…[GE Renewable Energy today secured over 7 GW in onshore wind orders in 2016…[and] over $3B of orders in the fourth quarter alone, partly thanks to a strong market in the US…[GE also] signed agreements in 19 countries around the world, including orders in Japan, India and Germany…[It] booked orders in Greece and Saudi Arabia for the first time ever. GE’s onshore wind installed base now stands at nearly 57,000 MW of global capacity…[Among GE’s major milestones in 2016 were completing construction of 30 turbines in] the first of a three-phase wind project in southeast India…[agreeing] to install approximately 250 MW of wind energy across 12 future project sites throughout Germany…[securing] five-year Digital Wind Farm services contracts for two wind farms in central Japan…[and closing deals in Turkey] for 120MW of installed capacity…”click here for more

Monday, February 6, 2017

Yet Another Try At Denial

“…[After] the public began to notice the heat waves and the torrential rains and the tidal flooding…[climate deniers shifted from denying to] fending off climate questions…[That formula.met with ridicule and now the strategy is to question climate scientists’] ability to measure with precision the extent of that impact…Anybody who did not know better might come away thinking there is room to doubt whether humans are the main cause of global warming…[Experts insist] the public should not be fooled. The deep consensus among climate scientists, arrived at through decades of research, is that human activity is the cause of most of the planetary warming of recent decades, and probably all of it…For starters, an unassailable body of physics tells us that if you add carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, they will trap extra heat near the surface of the planet, a prediction so basic it was first made in the 19th century…

Emissions have soared in the modern era, and as predicted, the Earth is heating up…[Natural factors could in principle be causing the climate to change but we have satellites keeping a close eye on them and researchers have ruled out] everything we know that works on long time scales that has ever affected climate in the past…The most important uncertainties are not really about the cause of global warming — we are the cause — but in trying to forecast how big the coming changes will be...If emissions continue at a high level but the Earth turns out to be less sensitive to greenhouse gases than currently believed, that would give humanity a few extra decades…But it is not a get-out-of-jail-free card: If we keep burning fossil fuels in that time, scientists say the planet will still undergo profound, threatening changes…”

The Rich Winds In Kansas

“…Kansas is in a perfect position to capitalize on the green revolution by investing heavily in wind energy…[T]he second windiest state in the country…[and wind produced one-fifth of its 2016 electricity but]…as wind energy becomes cheaper, Kansas should be more incentivized to make the transition away from [the fossil fuels that] pollute our water and air…[In 2016, 101,000] jobs were created in the wind energy sector and…[it] has the potential to support more than 600,000 jobs in manufacturing, installation, maintenance and supporting services by 2050…[It is also] one of the few manufacturing industries that can greatly benefit rural communities and counties…[Over the 20 year life of only 4 Kansas wind projects, landowners will reportedly see about $2 million a year in lease payments and] local governments will see a $1.2 million contribution every year…This kind of revenue can help rural communities thrive by giving well-paying jobs to local residents and providing local governments a reliable source of cash flow, which can be put toward rebuilding roads, replacing aged pipelines, [and] investing in educational resources for schools…”click here for more

Solar’s Importance Growing

“…[W]e will need to generate approximately 15TW of usable energy from renewable (carbon-neutral) sources by 2050 in order to stabilize the atmospheric CO2 concentration…[S]olar power has the greatest potential for meeting this requirement…[W]ind, hydropower, and geothermal extraction may work well on a local or regional scale in certain areas…[but] the potential of solar exceeds any other renewable energy source by several orders of magnitude. It’s simply the only contender, besides nuclear power, for a global solution…Given the recent change of federal leadership, it's likely a time of great uncertainty for large US solar initiatives. But individual organizations, businesses, and even citizens can still make decisions for themselves about embracing solar…[Prospects look good for growth because energy from rooftop solar power is now cheaper than energy from the grid…And in fact, “solar farms” are growing in popularity as a way for communities to gain some of the benefits of solar power without requiring each individual to invest in a separate rooftop system…”click here for more

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